Means facilitating recovering of articles lost in water



June 30, 1959 l. J. GRUENBERG MEANS FACILITATING RECOVERING OF ARTICLES LOST IN WATER Filed Jan. 6, 1956 FlG.l.

INVENTOR.

IVOR J. GRUENBERG States Patent MEANS FACILITATING RECOVERING 0F F ARTICLES LOST IN WATER 'Ihe' invention relates to' a device for recovering articles which are lost in water anda re of a specific gravity sufficient to sink therein. "-It is the object of the invention to provide a device of relatively small dimensions attachable to thearticlwhich'whenthe latter sinks will render it sufliciently mnnyantfito'; flo' at. into observable position. 'Io.. this-endthe invention consists in thecombination of an inflatable member and gas generating means connected thereto normally inactive but activated by a pre determined hydrostatic pressure. An object of the invention is to provide a device in which, in a very compact structure, a maximum expansion of the inflatable member to buoy the article is insured, by insuring a full and maximum activation of the gas generating means.

In the attainment of the above general object, the invention further consists in a construction including a small casing or cartridge having stored therewithin the inflatable member and also having a normally sealed chamber for holding the gas generating material. A valve actuated by hydrostatic pressure admits the cooperating substance for effecting gas generation which may be normally either within the casing or admitted thereto from without it this substance is water. In either case a predetermined hydrostatic pressure is required to start the gas generation. The invention further consists in capillary or equivalent means for equalizing internal and external atmospheric pressures regardless of changes in temperature or atmospheric conditions and without interference with the operation of the device under hydrostatic pressure when submerged. As herein shown, an opening of capillary bore size communicates the side of the inflatable member opposite its gas-subjected side with the exterior of the device, thus affording a passage for the expulsion of air as the inflatable member expands. The invention further consists in the more specific constructions as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the device as attached to a fishing rod.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the device detached.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing one of the ports controlled by the valve.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6, Fig. 5.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, A is a cylindrical casing which may be formed of a plastic or any other suitable material. B is a cap at one end of this casing which may have a threaded engagement therewith or other means for holding it in sealing position. C is a cap for the other end of the casing which has only a friction engagement therewith permitting of its displacement by internal pressure. The casing A has one or more apertures A in the wall preferably arranged centrally of its longitudinal dimension. D is a valve for closing the apertures A which may be a cylindrical member formed of resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber, a suitable plastic, or like deformable material fitting within the internal dimension of said casing and overlapping said apertures, which as shown are of triangular form in order to insure a full entry of water at the critical hydrostatic pressure. One end of the member D may be peripherally anchored to the outer casing by any suitable means as indicated at D to flex radially inwardly on the right of this anchored zone. The other end of the member D is free to be collapsed by external fluid pressure through the apertures A. E is an inflatable bag formed of rubber or other elastic material secured at its open end within the cylindrical member D. The bag extends beyond the member D to the left, Fig. 2, into a chamber F between the same and the cap C. Within the chamber F in the portion of the casing A to the right of the member D and extending within the latter and the bag E is a member G formed of gas generating material such as aluminum carbide Al C calcium carbide CaC sodium bicarbonate NaHCO together with a crystalline acid. All of these will be inert when "kept free from water but when in contact therewith will generate a gas such as methane CH acetylene C H and carbon dioxide C0 The chamber F is normally sealed by the valve D but the chamber F is vented by a capillary passage C through the cap C. This is small in diameter so that while it will freely pass air inward to or outward from the chamber F it will not readily pass liquid. Thus, alterations in internal air pressure due to temperature changes or from any other cause will be equalized with the external atmospheric pressure through the restricted passage C and in the chamber F by displacement of the member E. Chamber F is thus rapidly vented of air as inflation of bag E commences. In consequence, there is no back pressure to resist the inflation or expansion, nor to resist the entry of water past valve member D in ample quantity to complete the inflative reaction. Bag E continues to inflate without the exertion of suflicient internal pressure on valve D to re-close the same prematurely. In short, once the critical hydrostatic pressure is reached, passage C assists in the rapid admission of fluid to chamber F. The passage C will not, however, admit water when the device is submerged.

The construction as thus described may be attached to a fishing rod in any convenient location by taping or by any other means or in case the rod is provided with a hollow handle it may be arranged within the interior thereof. The material G will be maintained dry even in a rain storm as the member D will seal the ports or apertures A. If, however, the casing is immersed in water to a predetermined depth external hydrostatic pressure will displace the member D from the ports A so as to admit water to the chamber F into contact with the material G. This will generate gas, the pressure of which will first inflate the member E, and by its pressure will displace the cap C extending outward from the tube and expanding to a size determined by the volume of gas generated. This will be suflicient to lend buoyancy to the member to which the casing is attached even though the latter is of a specific gravity which would cause it to sink. When the member F is expanded to suflicient size the fishing rod or other article to which the device is attached will be raised to the surface of the water where it may be observed and recovered.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modification in which the cooperating gas generating materials are held within the casing but normally out of contact with each other. Hydrostatic pressure forces these materials into contact resulting in the generation of gas. More specifically a cylindrical casing H has therewithin the inflatable member I and also a container I having a flexible collapsible 3 wall. These two members are secured to-each other and to the casing H, as indicated at K, and the member I has a tapering extension I with a plug or stopper 1 closing its outer end. A displaceable cap L similar to the cap C closes the end. of the casing in which the member I is located, while the opposite end has a cap L provided with ports L for admission of liquid therethrough. The dry gas generating material M is within the inflatable member I. With this construction hydrostatic pressure of the water entering through the ports L will collapse the wall of the container J imparting sufiicient pressure to the liquid therein to force out the plug J so that it may commingle with the material M. The container I may have either water or any other liquid therein which will coact with the material M for gas generation. Both of the above described constructions have this in common that gas generation is activated by hydrostatic pressure.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A device for retrieving liquid-immersed articles, comprising a casing attachable to the article to sink therewith, said casing providing a pressure chamber, an infiatable member in said casing in sealed relation to said chamber on one side of said member and subject on said side to inflating fluid pressure in said chamber, said casing including a releasable closure displaceable by said member upon inflation thereof, and a portion of said casing being penetrable by air through an opening therein exposed to the interior or the casing on the opposite side of said inflatable member to permit ready escape of air from the last named side to the exterior of the casing, thereby equalizing pressure within said casing at all times when said device is not submerged, means responsive to a predetermined hydrostatic pressure externally of said chamber to admit liquid to the latter, said air penetrable opening being resistant to penetration by liquid as said device sinks and permitting escape of air therethrough in sinking, thus to assist in the rapid and copious admission of said liquid by diminishing back air pressure on and re: sistance to initial inflation of said member, and inflating means in said chamber actuable in response to said admission of liquid to inflate said member and displace said closure.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, in which said air-penetrable opening is of capillary size of bore and is formed in said releasable closure.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,642,693 Broady June 23,, 1953 

